Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN BIG LAKE
Big Lake Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓BIG LAKE AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Big Lake.
Big Lake has its own permit for replacing a water heater at home. It costs $51 ($50 plus a $1 surcharge) on the 2026 fee schedule, and you only need a final inspection by Inspectron. Power comes from Connexus Energy or Xcel Energy, depending on where you live, and gas comes from CenterPoint Energy.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Big Lake Building Department (inspections by Inspectron, Inc.)
- Permit fee
- $51 to replace a water heater: a $50 permit fee plus a $1 surcharge (2026 City of Big Lake Fee Schedule and permit form).
- Who gets the permit
- The owner or the contractor can sign the application. The form says a contractor must list a state license or bond number.
- Electric utility
- Connexus Energy and Xcel Energy
- Gas utility
- CenterPoint Energy
- Water
- City of Big Lake
- Rebate worth checking
- Heat Pump Water Heater Rebate (Minnesota electric) (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 2000 (median) · 87% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 3 that advertise water heater work
01 / TYPICAL PRICES
What a new water heater costs.
Know before you call.
Heat-pump tank
$2,500–$5,000Typical cost, including installation
Tankless
$2,400–$5,400Typical cost, including installation
AI equipment illustrations; models vary and images are not to scale. Typical national prices from Home Depot ↗, checked September 28, 2026. The source doesn’t say how many jobs the ranges are based on. These are not Big Lake averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Big Lake
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee$51 to replace a water heater: a $50 permit fee plus a $1 surcharge (2026 City of Big Lake Fee Schedule and permit form).. City of Big Lake Building Department (inspections by Inspectron, Inc.) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Big Lake post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Dean's Home Services, Paul Bunyan Plumbing & Drains. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Big Lake average is shown.
What can change the price in Big Lake?
A furnace or AC needs its own over-the-counter permit. On the 2026 schedule, home plumbing changes are $100 and mechanical remodel work is $100. The state, not the city, issues electrical permits.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Big Lake?
Companies that advertise water heater replacement here, with what their water heater customers say.
Companies we found in our research. They are not Ember & Tank providers or partners. We show selected reviews, not a rating or every review. How we choose reviews →
Dean's Home Services
Lists Big Lake among the areas it serves. Based in Maple Grove.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
Published price: Specials (expire 09/30/26): 'Purchase a new water heater and we'll buy back your old one for up to $650'; '$30 Water Heater Flush' (with free water quality test); 'Up to $1,000 Off Water Softener & Water Heater'; '30% Off Water Softener with Water Heater Install'; '$100 OFF PLUMBING Repair or Install' —
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised same-day water heater appointments and installations, clear explanations, help with financing and a strong warranty.
Worth knowing In BBB complaints, one landlord said Dean's replaced a 20-year-old water heater (about $1,800) when the real problem was a utility-locked gas meter, and another said a new water heater installed without a relay kept their boiler running; Dean's responded to both, citing the heater's age and saying it fixed the boiler controls and offered a hotel stay (both listed as Answered).
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Paul Bunyan Plumbing & Drains
Lists Big Lake among the areas it serves. Based in 5720 International Parkway, New Hope, MN 55428 (Twin Cities location; also a Rochester, MN location).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupons: water heater tune & flush only $29; $500 off tankless water heater; free plumbing service call with repair ($89 value) —
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised same-day water heater replacements, quick responses to leaks, a careful warranty diagnosis, and a technician who avoided an unnecessary replacement.
Worth knowing BBB reviewers alleged very high water heater quotes (cheapest $6,300 in one case), a salesperson rather than a plumber sent to an urgent leak, and pressure to replace water heaters during unrelated visits; the company replied to several reviews saying it would review the feedback with its team.
6 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Modern Plumbing & Heating
Lists Big Lake among the areas it serves. Based in Brooklyn Park.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Order: companies based in Big Lake first, then companies whose water heater reviews we’ve read. Each group is alphabetical. These businesses are not our employees or vetted partners and do not receive requests from Ember & Tank. We haven’t checked their license, insurance or quality of work. Minnesota plumbing license lookup (DLI iMS) ↗.
FROM COMPANIES SERVING BIG LAKE
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN BIG LAKE
What Big Lake homes are like.
2000Median year built
16%Built before 1980
87%Owner-occupied
77%Heat with utility gas
90%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 2000. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
77% of homes heat with utility gas, so gas water heaters with existing venting are common here.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2024 5-year ↗ (2020-2024). Heating fuel is what homes use to heat the house. It often, but not always, matches the water heater’s fuel.
LOCAL CONDITIONS
What’s different in Big Lake.
Its own water heater permit, with one final inspection
Big Lake's home water heater/softener permit needs just one final inspection by Inspectron. Before work starts, post the inspection card on site where it can be seen from the street.
Big Lake: Water Heater / Water Softener Permit Application (PDF) ↗
Water treatment and chloride
A city paper on water explains why Big Lake has its treatment plants. It also says the city doesn't treat for chloride (salt from roads and softeners) yet, but future rules may require it.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Big Lake homes.
Energy
- Electric: Connexus Energy (listed among utilities that pay the city a franchise fee)
- Electric: Xcel Energy (one of the utilities paying the city a franchise fee)
- Gas: CenterPoint Energy
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Big Lake homes.
For Connexus Energy, Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy customers in Big Lake. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Heat Pump Water Heater Rebate (Minnesota electric) ↗Active$400 for an eligible electric heat pump water heater, or $500 for a smart heat pump water heater.
- Natural Gas Water Heater Rebate (Minnesota gas) ↗Active$75 for a standard gas tank water heater at 0.64 UEF (medium draw) or 0.68 UEF (high draw); $250 for a gas tankless water heater at 0.87 UEF or higher.
- Residential Water Heater Rebate (Minnesota) ↗ActiveReplacement rebates: $250 for a gas tank of 55 gallons or less (0.64 UEF medium draw or 0.68 UEF high draw), $500 for a gas tankless at 0.87 UEF or higher, $1,000 for a combination tankless plus air handler unit, and $200 for an indirect storage tank.
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 30, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Minnesota rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Big Lake.
Permits and who issues them
Big Lake has a Water Heater / Water Softener Permit Application for homes only. It's an over-the-counter permit, usually processed in 1-2 business days. Send it by email, by mail or at City Hall, and don't pay until it's approved. You only need a final inspection. Call Inspectron at 651-322-6626 at least 24 hours ahead to schedule it. Post the inspection card where it can be seen from the street.
City of Big Lake Building Department (inspections by Inspectron, Inc.) ↗ · Big Lake: Residential Building Applications ↗ · Big Lake: Water Heater / Water Softener Permit Application (PDF) ↗ · Big Lake 2026 Fee Schedule (PDF) ↗ · Big Lake: Building Permits & Inspections ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the Minnesota plumbing license lookup (DLI iMS) ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Minnesota licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Big Lake.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monticello | 4 mi | Check with city | $50 | Xcel Energy, Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association |
| Otsego | 8 mi | Required | $75 | Elk River Municipal Utilities, Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association |
| Elk River | 9 mi | Required | $75 | Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU), Connexus Energy |
| St. Michael | 10 mi | Required | $100 | Xcel Energy, Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association |
| Buffalo | 13 mi | Required | $75 | Buffalo Municipal Utilities (City of Buffalo Electric) |
| Rogers | 14 mi | Required | $85 | Xcel Energy, Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Big Lake water heater questions.
What does a water heater permit cost in Big Lake?
$51 in all: $50 for the permit and a $1 surcharge.
Big Lake: Water Heater / Water Softener Permit Application (PDF) ↗
How long until my permit is approved?
Usually 1-2 business days for an over-the-counter application. Wait until it's approved to pay.
Who does the inspection?
Inspectron, Inc., the company the city hires for inspections. Call 651-322-6626 at least 24 hours ahead.
More guides: Minnesota water heater replacement · All local guides